Butter is a common spreadable and flavorful ingredient and If you are planning to bring any type of butter on your next flight, here is the short answer.
Butter is allowed on planes but they need to follow the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule 3.4 oz / 100 ml (96 grams ) when transported in carry-on baggage, you can take large quantities of butter in checked baggage.
Keep reading to know more about traveling with butter in both domestic and international flights.
Let’s dive right in.
Can You Take Butter Through The TSA In Domestic Flights?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has strict rules regarding liquids, gels, creams and spreadable items.
These items are allowed but in limited quantities.
And even though they don’t specifically mention butter on their website, but butter falls in the creamy & spreadable category juts like peanut butter and some types of cheese.
I also checked Twitter to find some answers.
Eve wanted to take this 8 oz / 227 grams of butter in carry-on.
The TSA clerks replied that creamy and spreadable items, such as butter must stay within the TSA 3.4 oz liquid rule.
Each piece of butter must be 3.4 oz / 100 ml (96 grams ) or less placed in a quart sized bag, which is not practical when traveling with butter or any other food products.
You can always take frozen butter or buy it after you pass the security checkpoint instead.
Frozen butter is allowed in quantities of more than 3.4 oz / 100 ml, but it needs to be completely hard at the same time when you are going through the security checkpoint.
| Butter | Carry-on Baggage | Checked Baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Pear butter | 3.4 oz / 100 ml for each container | No limits |
| Margarine | 3.4 oz / 100 ml containers | No limits |
| Apple Butter | 3.4 oz / 100 ml containers | No limits |
| Shea butter | 3.4 oz / 100 ml containers | No limits |
| Sunflower butter | 3.4 oz / 100 ml containers unless it is for medical use | No limits |
| Cocoa butter | 3.4 oz / 100 ml for each container | No limits |
Can You Take Butter In Checked Baggage?
There are no restrictions on transporting butter in checked bags.
If you want to take a big chunk of butter ( for any reason ) and you don’t want to split it into small pieces, then it is a good idea to place it in your checked bag, but you will need to do some hard work.
Freeze the butter and use a cooler to maintain its temperature during transportation, just ensure that the cooler is well secured.
Consider a small cooler that will fit as a checked bag so you don’t’ have to pay oversized luggage fees.
Can You Take Butter On International Flights?
If you are flying to a different country, it is important to know that the regulations for bringing butter and dairy products into foreign countries differ from one to another.
While the TSA may allow you to bring butter on a plane, other countries may have different rules at their customs.
Please double check the exact rules of your destination country.
Countries regulates bringing food items accordingly to avoid possible pests and diseases.
Here is the rules for bring butter to the US the UK and some other countries.
| USA | Butter are generally admissible |
| UK | You can not bring butter or diary products from countries outside the EU or Faroes Islands |
| Australia | Allowed for personal use but you need to declare it |
| Canada | Allowed |
| New Zealand | Allowed for personal use but you need to declare even small amounts |
Final Thoughts
It is admissible to bring butter on planes, but if it is not frozen it needs to follow the TSA 3-1-1 liquid rule, only 3.4 oz / 100 ml / 96 grams for each single piece.
If you are traveling with a big chunk of butter consider taking it in a cooler as a checked baggage.
For international travel ensure that you are allowed to bring butter to your destination country.
We hope this helps
Happy travels
Tip: Check out this Travelpro Platinum Elite 21” Carry-On Spinner, a sleek and versatile carry-on that is designed to fit within the limits of most airlines, to save you from the hassle of the airports and the pesky airline fees.
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